FoodRediscover pre-war delight 'cwibak': a low-calorie cake recipe without fats or baking powder

Rediscover pre‑war delight 'cwibak': a low‑calorie cake recipe without fats or baking powder

To bake a fruitcake, you need fat. Meanwhile, a sponge cake can do without oil, butter or margarine.
To bake a fruitcake, you need fat. Meanwhile, a sponge cake can do without oil, butter or margarine.
Images source: © Pixabay

6:55 PM EST, January 10, 2024

If you're seeking a low-calorie option, keep some powdered sugar on hand to dust over the cake. If calories aren't a concern, you might consider adding frosting. Most people already possess all the ingredients for 'cwibak' at home. You might have to dash to the nearest store for dried fruits and nuts, or the earlier mentioned frosting.

Pre-war 'cwibak': required ingredients

  • 5 eggs
  • 2 cups of flour
  • 1 and 1/4 cups of sugar
  • Favorite dried fruits and nuts in any quantity: for instance, hazelnuts, walnuts, orange peel or raisins
  • Powdered sugar or ready-made frosting

Pre-war 'cwibak': preparation method

  • Preheat the oven to 356 degrees Fahrenheit (using top-bottom heating, without a convection feature).
  • Separate the whites from the yolks of four eggs.
  • Whip the egg whites until stiff using a mixer or a food processor.
  • Prepare a creamy mixture with the egg yolks and sugar.
  • Mix the yolks with the flour and eggs. Add the beaten egg whites to this mixture.
  • Blend the dried fruits and nuts with flour and add them as well to the mixture. Pour this thick batter into a loaf pan, which has been previously greased with butter or margarine.
  • Bake the cake for 50 minutes. You can use a stick to check if it has baked all the way through.

Once baked, cool the cake in the oven and then it's ready! After removal, sprinkle the 'cwibak' with powdered sugar or frost it, and then set it aside to let the frosting cool. This cake is a perfect afternoon snack to pair with coffee. Interestingly, its flavor improves with time, so you can storage it for up to a week in a plastic container to avoid dampness.

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